Is there a problem with DeepSeek? Safe or Not?

Bittime - DeepSeek, a Chinese AI chatbot, has recently surged in popularity, topping the app charts and sparking huge debate over its privacy and security implications. 

While it offers a similar AI assistant experience to ChatGPT at a lower cost, concerns about data collection, potential cyber threats, and government regulations have raised red flags. 

This article will examine the potential risks of DeepSeek, its data policies, and whether users should be concerned about using it.

What Data Does DeepSeek Collect?

DeepSeek's privacy policy states that they collect three categories of information:

1. User Provided Information – Includes personal details such as name, email address, and text or files uploaded by the user.
2. Automatically Collected Data – The app collects device information, IP addresses, cookies, usage data and payment details.
3. Information from Third Parties – Data may also be obtained from external services such as Apple, Google and advertising partners.

This level of data collection is similar to that found in other AI models, such as ChatGPT and Gemini. 

However, the main concern lies in where the data is stored and how it is managed.

Read Also: 18 DeepSeek AI Facts You Need to Know

How Does DeepSeek Use Data?

According to its privacy policy, DeepSeek uses the collected data to:

• Provide and improve its services
• Enforce terms of use
• Communicate with users
• Fulfill legal obligations
• Sharing with third parties, including law enforcement, advertisers, and analytics companies

Additionally, DeepSeek retains data “as long as necessary,” which raises concerns about long-term data retention and potential misuse.

Security Concerns and Government Surveillance

Some governments and cybersecurity experts have raised concerns about DeepSeek's data policies.

One of them is about national security risks. The US and Australian governments are assessing whether DeepSeek poses a security threat due to its Chinese origins and data storage practices.

Not only that, DeepSeek may also provide exposure to cybercrime. China is among the countries with the highest cybercrime rates, making DeepSeek potentially vulnerable to data breaches.

Under Chinese law, companies must comply with government data requests, raising concerns that user data could be accessed for state purposes.

Recent Cyber ​​Attacks on DeepSeek

Adding to security concerns, DeepSeek was recently the target of a large-scale cyberattack, forcing it to temporarily limit new user registrations. 

While no major data leaks were reported, this incident highlights the vulnerability of AI-based platforms to cyber threats.

Is it safe? Using DeepSeek?

The decision to use DeepSeek depends on individual risk tolerance. If you understand data privacy risks and practice careful online behavior, using DeepSeek may be safe with limitations on sharing personal data.

For those less familiar with online security, alternatives such as ChatGPT or Claude may be a safer choice.

Read Also: DeepSeek AI Trending, Beware of Many Scam Tokens!

Conclusion

DeepSeek offers an attractive AI alternative but comes with significant privacy and security risks. Users should weigh the benefits against potential data vulnerabilities before deciding to use this platform. 

Governments and cybersecurity agencies will likely continue to monitor the impact, making it important for users to stay informed about emerging risks.

FAQ

What is DeepSeek AI?

DeepSeek AI is an artificial intelligence from China that offers advanced AI solutions with lower costs and high efficiency, even able to compete with popular AI such as OpenAI and Google DeepMind.

Is DeepSeek AI Only Used in China?

No, although DeepSeek AI was developed in China, this technology has the potential to be used globally. Its increasing popularity shows its appeal in the international market.

How to Avoid DeepSeek AI Token Scam?

Always do research before investing and use platforms like Uniswap or DexScreener to check the credibility of a token.

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Reference

Mohiuddin Ahmed, DeepSeek: why the hot new Chinese AI chatbot has big privacy and security problems, accessed January 30, 2025

Tom Gerken, Be careful with DeepSeek, Australia says - so is it safe to use?, accessed January 30, 2025

The Guardian,  DeepSeek hit with ‘large-scale’ cyber-attack after AI chatbot tops app stores, accessed January 30, 2025

Author: SD